Musings from my Window

 It seems like every 10 years of my adult life I go into "overhaul" mode. In my 20's, as a young mom I found myself looking at my time and realizing that I had kind of "lost" myself to motherhood. At that point in life, I started exercising, visiting with friends, journaling, and volunteering to get a little bit of "me" back. These same awakenings happened like clock-work in my thirties and forties, so it should come as no surprise the same feeling of being "lost" hit in my 50's. This time around the focus is more of making health a priority. I have always felt "healthy", but as I looked at the family pictures taken over the summer and grew dismayed as I saw how big and doughy I looked. How had this happened? I thought I was healthy, but in reality I have been pretending. I developed bad habits. I loved carbs. I felt tired and emotional after work. I felt bored and restless at home. Little by little, I turned to food to make lik

 Today I was reading in the Wall Street Journal  an article about the elderly bequething their precious things to the younger generation only to have the items rejected. Commenters suggested that the young no longer value quality. I have been thinking about this because I have seen my mom and mother-in-law in the midst of downsizing. I too, have been the recipient of unwanted items.  There are a few things to consider: *Styles change--and things are tastes and styles have changed faster than ever due to mass-produced items. Many of these items do not hold their value--and this holds true today as much as it does on items mass-produced 50 years ago.  *Less is more. We have shifted from an era where each piece of furniture, clothing, accessory was hard-earned. The quality was better. Now days, we are inundated with "fast fashion" items, Ikea, and Walmart. It is easy to become overloaded with "stuff". Like barnacles on a boat, we are weighted down with the sheer amount

I have had to work through a lot of negative emotions in my teaching. Covid-19 has thrown us all for a loop here at school. I felt completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that is being required of  me right now. There feels like too much to do and definitely not enough time. I have felt anger for the unfairness of the situation. I have felt frustrated that none of my efforts to alleviate the problem were working. And I have felt very sorry for myself. The intersting thing to note is that none of these emotions have led to solutions or positive outcomes. So here is a new set of thoughts I have been trying to adopt: *Yes, this is hard, but "this too, shall pass". *I have enough time to do everything that is needed. *Look for the positive and highlight it. *Reach out to the one. *Knock, ask, seek. Heavenly Father is there to help. Solutions are available if you reach out to Him and listen. *Be of good cheer! My mind continues to want to go down the road of despair and

A sweet note from first-grader, Lily.  I found myself teaching first grade earlier this week. It was a shock to my system because I have primarily substituted for the older grades this past year.   As I worked with little class I found myself toggling between feelings of compassion and annoyance. They were so needy and emotional. One little girl refused to be consoled when her Christmas tree that she was cutting did not turn out the way she planned--after three attempts. Several children would come to me to tattle on another child hurting their feelings. By break time I was slightly frazzled. I ran down to my friend Amanda's classroom to borrow two of her little stuffed owls. It was time for an episode of "Daw TV" with this band of first graders. Daw TV came about when I was substituting for Amanda last year. Two of her stuffed owls fell in front of the document camera on accident while we were getting ready for math. I, being funny started making them talk about ho

Listening to Jody Moore and Brooke Castillo has provided a lot of "aha" moments, but the biggest insight is that our thoughts are the drivers of everything in our lives.  This concept has blown me away the past few months. If I want to change anything, I do so by first changing my thinking. And so with this in mind, here are a few thoughts to look at when it comes to keeping a tidy home: "It is just one thing." --Not true! That cup in the sink will become 20. The outfit left on the floor cause your bedroom to look  like the changing rooms at Old Navy if not addressed pronto! "I'll do it later." --This is my favorite phrase, but it causes so much trouble in my life. Trevar has been the biggest teacher of the phrase, "Do it Now!" I used to put off unpacking from a vacation for a day or two, but after being married to Trevar I have followed his example and unpacked almost as soon as my feet enter my house. Sometimes I have wondered if I am s

Yesterday I had to run to rental property to check on a bathroom shower rip-out project. Julia, home from school came along for the ride. It has been about five years since Julia has returned to the home of her birth. The renters, some of the nicest people on the planet, have made it their home now. It was sobering for Julia due to the fact that our old house is now full of wall-to-wall stuff. The basement, where the project was taking place housed many items. The garage was very full with a makeshift four-wheeler repair shop set up. The front drive housed four cars--not one in the garage. Julia was shocked. "Mom, I don't even recognize our house!".  On the way home we talked about the differences. Now mind you, I love our renters and I am not judging them. They are doing the very best they can and I am grateful that they have been such reliable and kind renters over the years. Someday they will move, and take all of their stuff, and I will repaint and replace all of th